April 9, 2018 – Leica’s new Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16–35/3.5–4.5 ASPH. ultra-wide angle zoom lens perfectly rounds out the current zoom lens portfolio for the Leica SL, offering what is sure to be a go-to lens in the full-frame mirrorless Leica SL-System kit. While this ultra-wide angle lens is well-versed at capturing everything in a scene, its range of focal lengths makes it ideal for a diversity of uses, including landscape and architectural photography, wedding, event, and concert photography to reportage and documentary photography. The lens’s versatility and ability to capture not only wide scenarios, but also zoom in on a subject’s details, make it the most accessible, easy-to-use wide-angle lens in all of Leica’s impressive line-up.

In addition to excellent imaging quality throughout the entire range of focal lengths and at all apertures, the high-performance lens also offers simultaneously fast and quiet autofocus. This is driven by a specially developed focusing drive including a stepping motor and linear positioning. In combination, this moves a single, dedicated glass focusing element that, due to its low weight, allows for a very quick autofocus.

The camera is also crafted to perform well in challenging situations. The lens features protected construction and special AquaDura® front lens coating that can withstand adverse weather conditions. Additionally, the lens’s barrel does not extend when zooming, which further helps the lens endure more rugged scenarios.

The newly designed optical system of the Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16–35/3.5–4.5 ASPH. contains a total of 18 elements in 12 groups that work to control distortion incredibly well. These elements include two asphericals for the correction of monochromatic aberrations and three elements made from glass with anomalous partial dispersion correct chromatic aberration. An improved mount geometry and high-quality coating ensure optimum suppression of reflections and stray light within the optical system.

With the addition of the Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16–35/3.5–4.5 ASPH., the portfolio of zoom lenses for the Leica SL now covers a range of focal lengths from 16 to 280 mm. Together with the Vario-Elmarit–SL 24–90/2.8–4 ASPH. and the APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90–280 f/2.8–4, this trio of exceptional lenses are able to expertly capture all genres of photography and enables photographers a high degree of flexibility and versatility with their craft and creativity.

The Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16–35/3.5–4.5 ASPH. will be priced at $5,495.00 and available worldwide in Leica Stores, Boutiques and Dealers starting April 23.

A new firmware update for the Leica SL, Version 3.2, will also be released April 23rdto address improvements specifically requested by Leica SL photographers:

The joystick can now be deactivated from the menu to prevent inadvertent changes to settings while the camera is in use

Eco Mode can be set to reduce the power consumption of the camera

The standard white balance value for daylight has been changed from 6600 K to 6500 K

Various improvements have been made for entering text and numbers (e.g. at WiFi password)

Compatibility with the Leica SF 60 System Flash and the SF C1 wireless flash controller

Other bug fixes

Technical Data:

Lens: Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35/3.5-4.5 ASPH.

Field angle (diagonal, horizontal, vertical)

Focal length 16mm: 105,6°/ 95,3°/ 72°

Focal length 24mm: 84,7°/ 74,4°/ 53,7°

Focal length 35mm: 64,6°/ 55,5°/ 38,7°

Optical Design

Number of lenses/groups: 18/12

Number of aspherical lenses: 2

Entrance pupil position:

Focal length 16mm: 105,9mm

Focal length 24mm: 101,5mm

Focal length 35mm: 105,0mm

Distance setting

Working range: 250mm to infinity

Smallest object field: Focal length 35mm – 90 x 135 mm

Largest reproduction ratio

Focal length 16mm: 1:7,7

Focal length 35mm: 1:3,7

Aperture

Setting/function: Electronically controlled aperture, set using turn/push wheel on camera, including half values